Lifting a child after surgery

I am scheduled for a TAH on 4/23, and I am very worried about taking care of my son. He is 13 months and obviously used to me picking him up on demand. For anyone with young children, how long was it before you could pick them up for diaper changes ect.

Is There Anyone That Can Help You For Now? My Youngest Daughter Is Five But Small, I Wasn't Able To Lift Her. Please Try To Get Help For Atleast The First 2 Weeks Or 3. But Whatever You Decide Please Be Careful. Let Us Know How You Doing. Sending You Big Hugs.

Martha

Hi senadler,
I don't have young ones at home but I do remember what a 13 month old weighs approx. If he weighs more than a gallon of milk, which I am sure he does it will be a few weeks before you can pick him up from floor level. If you sit on the couch or a chair and someone hands him to you, you should be able to change his diaper. You should not pick him up from a standing position when he is on the floor. Also carrying him around may be difficult. I know that it can't be avoided entirely but if you can for about six weeks it would be best
Debbie

My dr told me to.No more then a gallon of milk for 6 weeks.Is there anybody that can come and stay with you for awhile?My dog is only 8 pounds and everytime I pick her up I do feel pulling and stuff.I would hate for you to pull some stitches .I would ask the dr when it would safe for you.I know it is going to be hard for you.My daughter that is 4 keeps wanting me to pick her up.Take care and I wish you the best of luck.

Ditto on what deb42657 says. Is there anyone who can be around to help you? I held an 8 mth old baby(who was placed in my lap by someone else) @2wks post op, and just the baby being active, I could feel pulling on my abdomen. I hope you can get some help for your lifting.

My grandchild is 13 months, and it broke my heart not to be able to lift her up for the first 6 weeks. Luckily, she's at that age when she's just learning to climb up onto laps, the couch etc. I hope you will have help, but if not, concider moving down to your sons level more. I know getting up off the floor might only be marginally better than lifting, but if you take it slow and careful it could work. Good luck! -K

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was afraid that it would be for six weeks. He will be in daycare during the day, and my husband will be home at night, so it isn't an issue of having help. I just know it will be so hard not to pick him up when he is waiting for me to do it. Thanks again for the replies.

I remember a gallon of milk being alot to lift the 1 -2 weeks. Not sure I'd want to lift a child. You will need help with that.

My post op instructions (abdominal incision) said I could lift up to 20 pounds. Not sure why, so I use my head. I also reviewed one option with surgeon on discharge day - that was to sit on a chair myself, have child come close to me and kind of scoop her with ARM muscles up on to my knee.

Doc said it would be very hard to strain anything too much from that position I was in...

Also, for me, getting to floor and back up is NOT an option. I still don't do that at 2+ weeks out. Ouch. Changing a diaper would be doable, IF child were on something higher - preferably changing table height.

If your 13 month old is a climber at all - see if you can devise a safe way for him to climb on to a bed or other tall structure - lifting or changing from a higher position will be easier on you. My kids learned pretty early how to climb into their high chairs - maybe you could hold a hand or something to get your son that high and then scoop him to you...?

The main issue I have had with my kids is the unpredictability. Even when I just hold hands so kids can safely go down stairs, etc. if someone slips and jerks my arm, that's when I tense up tummy muscles and feel pain and know I've risked damaging something.

Good luck! Hopefully the weeks will go quickly for you!

-k.

If your child is old enough to climb up onto the bed by himself, then you could try putting a pillow in front of your stomach to protect it and then cuddle him without lifting him at all. This worked for my sister after her C-section, so maybe it might be workable for you. Good luck! Think of all the extra cuddling time he'll have with his dad.